What's Behind Charlie Sheen's 'Vile' Attack on Denise Richards?

EXCLUSIVE:Charlie Sheen unleashed a vile attack Monday morning on ex-wife Denise Richards, the mother of his two daughters and one of his last defenders, calling the actress a "traitor and loser whore" and "dog thief" on his uber-popular Twitter feed. Now, sources very close to the former couple reveal what's really fueling Charlie's newfound hatred of Denise.

"Denise didn't steal the dogs, he gave them back to her," a close friend of Charlie's tells me, referring to two pugs that no longer stay with the actor. "They were in horrendous shape. He doesn't want the dogs, he wants to fight!"

True, just read what @CharlieSheen tweeted to 3 million followers this morning: "We must bombard with Warlock Napalm, that traitor and loser whore #DUH-neese POOR-ards. a vile kidnapper and now dog thief. hate."

A source tells me that the pugs were in fact Denise's, but that after their divorce she let him keep them at his house so that when their daughters came to visit, "they would feel more at home." But then following his infamous hotel-trashing incident in NYC, he gave the dogs back to her.

"They were in terrible shape. He could not look after himself let alone two dogs," Charlie's friend tells me, adding that giving back the dogs was a sort of "thank you gift" for her steadfast support of him.

Sadly, according to TMZ, one of the pugs has died since leaving Sheen's "Sober Valley Lodge."

During his epic run of interviews last month, Charlie called Denise "fabulous" and "smoking hot," saying that he loves her "to death." But I'm told his mood swung wildly after Denise rebuffed his request to allow their daughters, Sam and Lola, to be a part of a Dateline special.

"When his sons with Brooke [Mueller] were removed from his custody last month, he asked Denise to bring their daughters to tape interviews, and she said no," my source said. "Since that, things with Charlie have been very, very ugly."

"Once you offend him, he will go out of his way to destroy you," the friend says.

And even with all this hatred and negativity, a source close to both Charlie and Denise stresses that the actress will continue to be civil for the sake of their kids.

"Denise doesn't agree with his lifestyle, but has always been respectful because of the daughters," my source contends. "She'll always be there for Charlie, but she can't put her kids through this."

I think folks are finally getting it. Charlie Sheen is one sick puppy and not a very nice person. Denise Richards is doing all the right things for both her kids and her pets - keeping them out of harms way no matter how much people still like her ex for unknown reasons.

I totally agree. Denise has presented herself as a lady always, which she most certainly is. But she also knows when to get away from him, and not expose her children to the rants of a mentally unstable addict. I admire her. Loathe him about now.

Publicity stunt, and everyone is falling for it. Alice Cooper was just inaugurated to the R&R HOF and he said, “One of the videos with Charlie shows a pale face, the make-up actors use to make themselves look pale & ill, but his chin, neck & hands were tan.” Alice did something in the early ‘70s that people roared about, and Frank Zappa, told him, “Do not ever let anybody know this was fake.” 25+ years later he finally confessed. Gene Simmons and Ozzy have even chimed in why they know it’s fake.

Exorcism makes more sense than anything else we've heard.A lobotomy would not work. What would you perform it on? Apparent self-destruction like this could be the work of one of the best "No such thing as bad publicity " campaigns ever, but he's just not smart enough for that.Or is he just a sick POS?I'll vote on the first and the last!H & G Charlie!

Agreed, and up until now I thought this was funny, pure acting and keeping himself in the business.But now he has turned so viciously to Denise and she of everyone does NOT deserve this. She has cared for those girls and sheltered them from most of their uncaring sperm donor for years and she will continue to do it with or with out a court hearing.

I somehow think anything she takes to court in regards to visitation for her daughters with their father she will win.

charlie I wont defend you any longer. You need help now, as in locked IN HELP.

Denise Richards directs all her courage to protecting her daughters. Charlie doesn't give a crap about how he treats the Mother of their children. These kids will eventually find out what a lousy person and father this drug addicted alcoholic is.I applaud Denise for being so darn level-headed!!!

Okay Chucko now you pissed me off. I thought you were pretty funny with your loon rants and all the garbage you were spuing and I actually defended you a couple times. Now that you want to spar with Denise you lost my mu support. She's too damned cute to be picked on so I'll defend her you spineless punk.....

Everyone needs to get over Charlie Sheen and his antics. He definitely has some serious problems and his ego just keeps getting bigger and bigger with all of the people following his tweets. Who really wants to pay money to see him rant and rave about his pitiful life?

All the drugs and alcohol are destroying if not already destroyed Charlie Sheens brain. Sad that a talent like his has sunk so low and sad for his children and his family. He needs to go to a locked rehab now....